She needs help

No one might had known Anika had cried all night. She always raised her head up high and smiled through it all.

"You're basically Cinderella at this point," Anika's friend Anna said to her.

Anika had just finished the laundry. "Exactly. Because I'm married to my prince charming," she smiled, throwing in the last batch of dirty underwear to the washing machine.

"You know there are maids in this house." Anna pointed out.

"No, Desiree has fired them all last week."

Her friend looked shocked,"what? She finally chased them away? That bitch."

"Hey, keep it down. We don't want them hearing."

"They're not at home. It's your wedding anniversary and you're here doing the laundry. It's not fair!"

"What's not fair?" Lark, Anika's husband, walked in. Tall and handsome, with a charming smile. "You talk like we're evil. Anika specifically says she wants to do it herself."

Anika winced. "No I did not," she heaved in a deep sigh. "I'm only doing your laundry now because you like me doing it. And your sister, Tori, added some to the piles."

"Yea, what's that all about? Is Tori living with you now?" Anna asked.

"Anna, could you please excuse us for a minute?" Anika asked her friend with a polite smile. "Thanks."

She turned to face Lark, who was now glaring at her with arched brows. "Okay? What was that all about?"

Anika was forced to squint a frown. "Sorry?"

"How can you tell your friend about us? Like babe, it's personal. You're making it seem like we're forcing you to do laundry now. You love doing our laundry."

"What?" It came out as a soft sigh. "No I don't. You fired all of the staff."

"We're cutting costs. You know my mother said that we should."

"Listen, are they living with us now?"

He shook his head, "I'm disappointed in you right now. How dare you talk bad about my family like that? We saved your life. You were nothing when we took you in."

If Anika had a dollar for every time he and his family always brought that up, heck, she could have been able to afford a private jet by now.

She was not going to fight. "Of course. And I am grateful, very grateful."

"Then what is it? I feel like you're about to ask me money for that dumb woman in the hospital."

Her face suddenly hardened. "Stop, how can you say that?"

Lark snorted. "I've told you. We're too poor to waste money like that."

"Waste mo--" She couldn't take it anymore. Was her tone starting to get rude? "No babe, honey why would you even say that? It's aunt Mary we're talking about. She's so nice, and she's been like family."

Lark had heard this conversation a million times. "Look, she needs around four thousand grand for this operation. We don't have that money right now. We're trying to hit ten million dollars so that my mother can throw the best fiftieth birthday party in the whole history."

Ten million!

"Listen to yourself, honey? And we can't whip a simple 4k gran?" She rushed forward to him, holding his hands in hers. "Honey, it would really mean the world to me. It's nothing too serious, she just needs to get this operation done in under a week. I dunno, the doctors said it could worsen after then. And by then, we'll be spending triple this amount."

Lark barked a scoff. "She's like what? Forty years old? She's old enough."

"Don't say that about her!" Anika warned, snatching her hand away from his. She softened her voice again, "Babe, I'll work hard and pay Desiree back. Can't you just try to talk to her for me? Her party isn't until like, 3 months?"

"3 months is here already—You know what? Why don't you ask her yourself? That's a good idea."

Anika sighed. "I already have!"

"Then do it again. Do it properly. Get on your knees."

On her knees? "Well, I guess you're right. I will."

"Good for you..."

"...soaked in paint. I laughed so hard," Desiree's voice could be heard from outside.

"Oh great, she's back. Go ask her." He held her hand, leading her to the living room. "Let's go,"

Desiree sat down next to her daughter, Tori. At the opposite end, Anna was seated too. "Ah it's great everyone is together!" Anika could feel her heart beating so fast, but she would give this another shot. Sure Desiree would be mature enough not to wish a poor innocent woman death?

"Desiree, Tori, I'd like to once—"

"—ta ta ta ta!" Lark shook his head and flashed her a slight angry look.

Right. She had to...

Anika forced a smile, "I respect you so so much," even though Tori was at least four years younger than her. Anika heaved in a deep sigh, then fell to her knees. Anna gasped out. "What are you doing?"

"Please, I owe you all my life. Without you, I don't know what I would have become. I'll repay you all some day, I swear it. But right now, aunt Mary needs our help. I'm begging you to help, please."

"How much money does she need again?" Tori asked.

Excitedly, Anika responded. "Four thousand dollars. I've been saving but I don't have up to that. And I know Lark would have helped me, but ever since he quit his job—"

"I told you she'd fall to her knees!" Lark roared out a laughter.

Tori said, whining, "aww damn it. I owe you a hundred bucks."

"Yea you do, baby!" Lark said proudly.

"Alright children. You know, that kinda cheered me up a bit, son." Desiree said.

"You're welcome, mi lady. This is why I'm your favorite child."

"Hey! I'm her favorite child."

Anika just knelt down there, shocked at the scene playing before her. Tears had gathered her eyes and filled it. "Um, as I was saying, please Desiree—"

"—honey, help me with that glass of water on the table." The older woman said.

Anika nodded, "of course," then dragged her knees on the ground till she reached for the table. She passed the glass to Desiree and continued. "As I was saying, I—"

But was cut short when Desiree took the glass of water and splashed it all over her face.